Nellu Pop, one of the coaches of the French gymnastics team who was suspended due to accusations of sexual assault on minors,
“does not understand this decision”
, he said on Saturday via a press release. one of his lawyers sent to AFP.
Nellu Pop was provisionally suspended on March 6 by the Ministry of Sports for alleged acts of
“violence and mistreatment towards athletes”
, the French Gymnastics Federation (FFGym) announced.
On March 8, an investigation was opened by the Paris prosecutor's office for sexual assault on minors by a person in authority and entrusted to the Minors Office (Ofmin).
“Nellu Pop has always been keen to offer effective training, as well as a safe environment for the gymnasts he takes care of,”
reacted one of his two advisors, Olivia Ronen, in a press release.
“He does not understand this suspension decision, nor the questioning of his integrity as a coach
,” the text continues.
“Nellu Pop will do her best to resume her duties as quickly as possible
. ”
“My colleague Samuel Chevret and I question the merits but also the temporality of this suspension
,” adds the lawyer.
“What do we think of a measure decided almost a year after an administrative investigation into the world of gymnastics, and just four months before the Olympics (July 26 – August 11, Editor’s note)?”
.
The alleged facts were brought to the attention of the ministry during an administrative investigation into the gymnastics federation, launched in May 2023 after a France 2 report in which six former gymnasts from the French team denounced violence physical or psychological on the part of coaches.
According to the newspaper L'Equipe on Saturday, the athletes trained by Nellu Pop and a large part of the staff of the French team are demanding the return of the coach from the ministry.
Contacted by AFP, the ministry did not confirm this request.
“It was decided to suspend Mr. Pop from his duties with the French team as a precautionary measure, to allow the legal and administrative procedures to take place peacefully
,” explains the ministry.
“All measures are taken to preserve the preparation in the best conditions of our gymnasts with a view to Paris 2024
,” continues the ministry.
“The minister (Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Editor’s note) asked the federation and its national technical director to implement a continuity plan on which initial guarantees were provided and the final details of which will be communicated to her in the next days"
.
“The ministry and the minister reaffirm their wish to fight against all forms of violence, particularly sexual, by applying zero tolerance
,” concludes the ministry.